With the campaign

season nearly in full swing, Fayetteville officials have taken steps in

the past week to clarify any possible confusion about the city's sign

ordinance as it relates to political signs.

City Manager

Joe Morton released a written statement late last week about the sign

ordinance, which was amended in January at the recommendation of the city

attorney based on recent court decisions concerning local government sign

ordinances. The most recent ordinance is now on the city's Web site at

www.fayetteville-ga-us.org , City Clerk Judy Stephens said Wednesday.

A major change

adopted by the City Council earlier this year was that signs would no

longer be regulated based on content or to provide preference to commercial

speech over noncommercial speech, Morton said. Signs are now regulated

based on size, height, shape, design and spacing, but with no distinction

between commercial or noncommercial regarding the content.

Stake signs,

which are possibly the most common political signs, are permitted under

the city's ordinance, and are also classified as exempt signs and not

in need of city permits.

The ordinance

defines a stake sign as "any temporary sign supported by uprights

which are placed into the ground, and not supported by or suspended from

any building with Signable Area not greater than five square feet. Stake

signs may not be more than five feet high to the top of the sign component,

when placed and standing in ground. A stake sign may not be placed within

the right-of-way."

All residential

properties are allowed two stake signs throughout the year and all properties

are allowed four stake signs for 30 days preceding an election.

Anyone needing

more information concerning Fayetteville's sign ordinance is encouraged

to contact the Planning Department at 770-461-6029.

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